away, that she had seen him recently, and that Everard Monck had seen
him also.

That brought her thoughts very swiftly to the present, to Monck's
illness and dependence upon her, and in a flash to the realization that
she had spent nearly the whole day as well as the night in sleep. In
keen dismay she started from her bed and began a rapid toilet.

A quarter of an hour later she heard Peter's low, discreet knock at the
door, and bade him enter. He came in with a tea-tray, smiling upon her
with such tender solicitude that she had it not in her heart to express
any active annoyance with him.

"Oh, Peter, you should have called me hours ago!" was all she found to
say.

He set down the tray with a deep salaam. "But the captain _sahib_ would
not permit me," he said.

"He is better?" Stella asked quickly.

"He is much better, my _mem-sahib_. The doctor _sahib_ smiled upon him
only this afternoon and told him he was a damn' fraud. So my _mem-sahib_
may set her mind at rest."

Obviously the term constituted a high compliment in Peter's estimation
and the evident satisfaction that it afforded to Stella seemed to
confirm the impression. He retired looking as well pleased as Stella had
ever seen him.